Ireland bans 2 extremist Israeli ministers from entering the country, Justice Ministry says
DUBLIN: Ireland on Friday announced that it has banned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country, slamming their behavior toward pro-Palestinian activists.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan “has instructed immigration officers to refuse entry to Itamar Ben Gvir — Minister for National Security of Israel, and Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance of Israel — should they seek to enter the state,” a Justice Ministry statement said.
After the far-right minister Ben Gvir mocked activists seized by Israeli soldiers on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla last month, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said Ireland would act to bar the entry of Israeli officials seen as fomenting conflict in Gaza.
Firebrand Ben Gvir became a minister in 2022, after an alliance with the far-right Religious Zionist party of Bezalel Smotrich came third in legislative elections.
